Hey, my lovelies!
Short author's note: I want to thank you guys for your support to me and this story. Each follow/favorite/review means a lot to me, so thank you so much. I wasn't expecting such a postive response when I started Written in the Stars, and you guys are the reason, I'm still writing it, so thank time I read your reviews and kind words such as 'I love your story!', 'You're such a talented writer.', etc..., it blows me away. You guys are amazing. Thank you again for being with me on this journey.
Okay, enough with my rambling. Enjoy the chapter!
"Steffy?" Hope insisted and Steffy swallowed. "Are you pregnant?"
She finally steadied her gaze on the blonde. "I am." She answered.
Hope stayed silent for a while taking in the information, shocked, her mouth agape; Steffy and Taylor exchanged a worried glance. Then, she blew lowering her head. "And suddenly everything makes sense." She let out.
"What?!" Taylor exclaimed knitting her brows together while her daughter was raising hers in disbelief.
"Okay." Steffy spoke. "I am going to put that extremely inappropriate comment under the fact that you are still clearly heartbroken and distraught." She said and walked back to her desk. She started to put some order on her desk. She refused to let Hope get to her, not today anyway. She had better and more urgent things to do.
"What are you implying?" Taylor asked wanting to make sure she wasn't interpreting Hope's comment the wrong way.
"I am implying…" she started walking closer to her interlocutress. "…that your daughter used the baby that she's carrying to get Liam back..." she told Taylor before suddenly tilting her head to face the main concerned. "You know what Steffy? That's just low." She criticized her gesturing. "Then again, coming from you, it shouldn't surprise me." She said and her arm fell back to her side.
"Excuse me?!" Steffy's protective mother exclaimed disbelieving, her eyes widened; she was at the limit of outrage.
"Mom." Steffy called. She needed her mother to leave before things went too far: she knew her enough to know that there was no way that she was just going to stand by and watch her daughter get insulted without intervening. Her mom and her grandma had always been her biggest advocates, since ever. Taylor turned to her. "I can handle this." She assured her.
"Are you sure?" her mother asked her.
She nodded. "Thank you. I'll call you."
"Okay. Talk to you later then." Taylor said and Steffy nodded again. "Congratulations again, sweetheart." She said turning around when she reached the door.
"Thank you, mom." It was good to know there was at least one person who was genuinely happy for her at the moment.
Steffy waited a couple of seconds after her mother closed her door on her way out before she addressed Hope. "I understand… what you must be going through right now. But that does not give you the right to make such outrageous assumptions. You don't know the first thing about what Liam and I share!" she snapped.
She was really trying her best to keep her temper and be the bigger person here but it really wasn't easy when Hope took this superior air whenever Liam was concerned. Sure, Hope and Liam had history, a longer and far more complicated than hers with Liam but still, she was the one Liam had chosen. She was the one he was spending the rest of his life with and she was the one he was building a family with. And as much as Steffy felt sorry for her, Hope would just have to suck it up and deal with it!
Hope narrowed her eyes at Steffy angrily. How dare she? How she could use a baby to make sure that Liam would remain by her side?! That was just low! Even for Steffy. She guessed the apple never falls too far from the tree.
Still, Hope didn't understand how Liam could let this get between them. They had already been through this, they had already experienced this situation with crazy-Amber and he knew they could make it! She definitely wasn't Steffy's biggest fan but she could stand being around the brunette's child as long as it was Liam's too and they were together.
"So what? You're saying my accusations aren't true?" She challenged doubtful.
"Yes! I am!" Steffy responded pointedly. "And not that it's any of your business but Liam didn't find out until Yesterday night! Alright? He wasn't aware of this datum of the equation when he made his choice, Hope!" the raven-haired woman dotted her I's.
And Hope returned to her state of heartbreak. Liam hadn't chosen his baby over her or responsibility. His choice had no link whatsoever with any sense of obligation. He had just simply chosen Steffy… over her.
"I know what you are going through is tough, I do. And I'm sorry about that… whether you believe it or not." Steffy assured Hope meaning it. She really knew what the blonde was feeling, for having experienced it herself. And she did sympathize with Hope. "But Liam chose me. He wants to be with me. We're building a life together. Hope, you guys are done! And you're going to have to deal with that." She added nonetheless.
"Well, now, you're just being condescending." Hope said crossing her arms.
Steffy heaved a sigh looking away. "I'm serious, Hope. You need to stay away from Liam." She said in a warning tone.
The blonde merely stared at her silent, in an impudent, unsubdued kind of way. She approached her desk to as close she could. "I need your signature." Hope said simply roughly putting down forms on the desk, the reason of her presence in that office in the first place.
"Did you hear me?" Steffy asked her brows knit together.
"Your approval and signature are necessary for the release of the press item concerning the Intimacy line." Hope explained, ignoring the brunette's question and focusing on the forms.
"Hope, did you hear a word I just said?!" Steffy lost her patience.
Hope looked up at her. "I did hear you." She answered after a few seconds of silent staring.
"But you won't listen." The raven-haired woman concluded.
"Are you afraid Liam will go back on his decision?" Hope asked.
"Not one bit." Steffy responded without hesitation.
"Then you shouldn't fear whatever my plans concerning Liam are."
"You wouldn't dare tear a family apart."
Hope merely stared at her with a small shrewd corner smile. "Like I previously said Steffy, you don't know who I am anymore." She stated once more shaking her head.
There was a moment of silence as the two rivals were satisfied with merely staring at one another, a hundred of different emotions on their faces.
"Just give the forms to Madison once you signed them." Hope said and turned to head for the door; she left the room with no other word spoken.
/
Liam was on the phone when he heard a knock at his door; he looked up and saw Taylor who had her face in the opening of the door. He gestured for her to come in, what she did. She sat in the chair face to his and patiently waited for Liam to finish.
Two minutes later, he ended his telephonic conversation and hang up his phone before standing up to go greet Steffy's mother. She stood up as well and they kissed each other on the cheek.
"Hey, it's been a long time." Liam noted after they pulled away. "How are you?" he inquired.
"It has." She agreed. "I'm fine, thank you. How are you?" she asked back.
"I am…" Liam thought about it.
"More than fine?" Taylor suggested.
A happy smile appeared on his face. "More than fine, yes." He nodded.
She smiled at him. "Congratulations." She told him from the bottom of her heart.
"Thank you." He appreciated. "Congratulations to you too: this is your first grandchild!" he remarked.
Taylor briefly tilted her head. "It is. Thank you." She said. "So how do you feel about everything?" she inquired and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Ah… I'm not feeling anything really, not yet." He answered. "You know, I only found out yesterday, and I don't think the information has really reached my brain yet, so…" he explained. "I don't know, apart from happiness, I'm not feeling much right now." He admitted with a damped laughed.
"Oh, these are just the first months: happiness is the normal state of being of the beginning. Soon, you'll be freaking out." She warned him.
"Oh… Great." He said ironically causing her to laugh.
"Steffy's very happy too." Taylor declared. "I was just with her, and she's extremely happy: she's overwhelmed with happiness, and excitement; and that's all thanks to you. It had been a while since I hadn't seen that smile of hers." She said.
"She has the greatest smile huh?" Liam asked with a smile of his own on his face.
"The greatest." Taylor reaffirmed. "It means everything to her that you chose her without knowing about the baby. She now has the certainty that you are with her for her, and not because you can't be with Hope, or because she's pregnant." She told him.
"You have been aware of her pregnancy. Why didn't you tell me?" Liam asked.
"Because it wasn't my place!" Taylor responded. "I advised her to tell you, but she didn't want your choice to be conditioned by anything other than your love for her. She needed you to choose her not your baby." Taylor explained. "And you did!" she remarked to him.
"Mmmhh." He hummed quietly.
"She didn't want you to feel trapped."
Liam smiled faintly. "Yeah, she always puts my wants and desires before everything, sometimes even before her." He said thoughtfully.
"She does." Taylor concurred with Liam. "I'm glad you realize it. You know, that's what true love is all about." She told him. "And I'm not saying this as Steffy's mother; I'm saying this as a psychiatrist." She specified. "True love is about putting the other person's needs before your own happiness." She declared.
Liam just stared at her a couple of seconds and then gave her a small smile. "Taylor, if you came all the way here to make sure that I'm not regretting my decision and letting Steffy down, it was not necessary." He told his girlfriend's mother.
He raised a hand before him before Taylor could intervene. "I understand why you did: Steffy is your daughter; you're concerned about her. I get it. But you really don't have to." He paused. "I am committed to Steffy." He assured her.
Just as Taylor was about to reply, Liam's phone went off and he turned his head to glance at it. "Uh…"
"You go ahead: take it." She told him. "I really just wanted to congratulate you and make sure my baby girl was in right hands, which she is, so…I'm going to go now." She said and kissed him goodbye on the cheek. "You take care, alright?"
"I will; thank you." Liam said and went round his desk to grab his phone. "I will see you soon." He said and waited until Taylor had left (not without smiling one last time at him) to pick up his phone. "Hello?"
/
Liam was in his car on his way back to his house.
Contrary to what he thought given how he spent half his morning at the office only musing, Liam actually got a lot of work done today. Perhaps, it had been the prospect to meet Steffy again; perhaps, it had been the pressure his father put on him doing its effect… but in any case, he had managed to do everything he wanted to do.
He took his phone out of his jeans' pocket and put on his headphones before dialing his girlfriend's number.
'Hello?' she answered.
'Hello gorgeous!' he replied.
'Hi love of my life! How are you doing?' she asked.
'Ooh, I like the way that sounds.' Liam said.
Steffy giggled. 'Do you?' she asked.
'I do.' He restated pointedly with a motion of his head –though Steffy couldn't see him –getting a laugh from her.
'How are you?' she inquired.
'I'm fine.' He answered. 'You?' he asked back. 'Both of you?' he specified before she could answer.
A smile spread across Steffy's face at her boyfriend's words. She brought her left hand to her belly to caress it as she answered Liam. 'We're fine.' She asserted to him.
'Good.' He said. 'I just finished at the office. Should I come and get you? We could go have dinner?' he offered.
He was just five minutes away from Forrester Creations.
'Oh I would love to.' She said in a longing voice. 'Unfortunately, I still have some work around here so…'
'Aren't you a shareholder, co-owner, of this company?" he asked in a voice that clearly let foresee his ulterior motives.
Obviously, Liam didn't really reckon that Steffy holding an important percentage of shares in the company gave her right to less work than the other ordinary employees. He was just joking and he just really wanted to spend time with his girl; he had missed her lately.
She blew. 'Yeah well, that doesn't mean I get light days. I wish it worked that way, but it doesn't.' She replied.
'I know.' He said with a bored voice. 'But I had to give it a try, right?'
She chuckled softly. 'Well, someone's eager to see me.' She noted teasingly.
'Oh you have no idea.' Liam told her.
'Oh, I do.' She countered causing Liam to frown. The seconds of silence as he didn't reply anything gave her a hint that he was frowning so she explained herself. 'I can't wait to see you just as much.' She confided.
Liam's face relaxed into a smile. 'I miss you.' He admitted genuinely.
A big smile spread across her face. 'I miss you too.' Steffy reciprocated after a few seconds of savoring her boyfriend's romantic words. 'I'll be home in an hour okay?' she told him.
Liam's smile grew as she mentioned 'home': it had been a long time since she had referred to his beach house as her 'home'; he had missed the sound of that.
'Uh, an hour?' he asked dubious.
'Uh…' Steffy was about to protest taking an offended air when she realized he had a point. 'Okay, fine, I will be home in an hour and a half.' She corrected herself. 'Two hours… okay, I will be home in two hours and a half, last word, I promise.' She assured him.
Liam raised his brow and then suddenly burst out laughing. 'Okay.' He paused. 'You're crazy and completely addicted to work but I love you.' He told her.
'I love you.' She said in return.
'Should I get some takeaway before heading home?' he proposed.
'Sure.'
'What would you fancy?' he asked. 'Both of you?' he added before she got a chance to answer.
Steffy half-smiled half-laughed. She stroked her belly. 'Um…' she hesitated. 'We would fancy Chinese food.' She told him.
She didn't really have any cravings for the present; she was only at her first month after all, beginning of the second, but she did feel like eating Chinese food.
'I got it covered.' He told her.
'Thank you.' She acknowledged. 'See you back at home. I love you.' She told him.
'I love you too.' He said and hung up.
/
Hope was intent on the screen of her phone as she was replying to a business email when she inadvertently bumped into someone causing the document they were holding to collapse onto the floor.
She bent to help them pick it up. "Oh, I'm so sorry." She immediately apologized.
"It's okay."
As she heard that oh so familiar voice, she looked up to see no other than her dear brother, Rick. She looked away disbelievingly. Can this day get any worse? She asked to herself. She dropped the documents and got up. "You know what?" she asked him. "Scratch that: I'm not sorry." She told him and passed by him as she attempted to walk away.
She wasn't able to however as her brother grabbed her by the arm to hinder her. "We need to talk." He stooped to pick up his documents and then got back up to her level. "Hope, I told you repeatedly that I am sorry." Rick told her.
She raised her eyebrows in slight disbelief. "That's it?" she asked. "That's all you had to say to me?" she questioned.
"I don't really know what else to say, sis." He told her.
"Well, you sure had a glibber tongue when you were scheming with that bartender-DJ guy, or whoever the hell he was, against me and Liam." She commented crossing her arms under her chest.
Hope was so full of resentment towards Rick; she didn't think she had ever been this mad at her brother. On the contrary, she loved Bridget but Rick had always been her favorite sibling, and she liked to think it was mutual.
However, at the present moment, God forbade she killed because she really could. God she had lost everything because of him! She had lost Liam! She had lost not only her husband but an entire future completely planned out with him! And she knew Rick was sorry for his part in the whole thing; she knew that, but she just couldn't forgive him, not for the time being. She had lost too much to just get over it or herself.
"I was scheming for you." Rick corrected her.
"Oh, so you were scheming." She got him. "I think that's the first time you actually admit to it." She added.
"Hope, what exactly are you expecting from me?" Rick asked looking desperate; and he was. He was really running out of ideas of what to do for his youngest sister to forgive him.
"I don't know, Rick." Hope responded sternly. "But I'll be sure to let you know when I do." She told him.
"We're siblings, Hope: you're my sister; I'm your brother." He reminded her. "You can't stay mad at me forever." He pointed out.
"Sure I can!" she replied pointedly moving her head emphasizing her words. "Watch me." She said and walked away from him meaningfully.
/
Hope was sitting in Eric's office in one of the chairs trying to enhance her new sketches for her line, but neither her mind nor her heart was in it. She still hadn't quite taken in the news she had 'received' earlier in the day. Now, that is a conversation she would willingly forget.
She still couldn't believe it: Steffy was pregnant! She and Liam were having a child. They were taking a huge plunge in their life. They were definitely in this for the long haul.
Hope was like 'Wow'. She guessed it really was over this time… for good. Though she didn't admit it in front of the raven-haired woman because the last thing she wanted in that moment was give her reassurance, Steffy was right: she would never come between two parents; she would never try to tear apart a family. She had way too many principles for that: family meant everything to her.
"Hey, sweetheart!" Her mother greeted her as she entered the room interrupting her gloomy thoughts.
Hope turned to look at her. "Hey, mom!" She greeted back.
"How are you?" she asked. "I missed you last night."
"Yeah, I'm sorry. I should have let you know." Hope apologized. "It was just kind of… unexpected." She explained.
"Oh, that's okay." Brooke said walking towards Eric's desk to lean on it. "I understand; these things happen."
Hope looked up at her mother awkwardly and got right away by the glint shining in the latter's eyes what she was thinking. "Oh no, it's…it's not what you think." She immediately corrected.
"You weren't with Liam?" Her mother asked her raised a knowing eyebrow at her.
"I was." She admitted tilting her head. "However, things definitely didn't turn out the way you thought they did or even how I wanted them to." She told her mom.
"What do you mean?" Brooke enquired.
Hope took a deep breath and heaved a sigh. "Liam and I… are through." She declared. "Forever."
"What?!" Brooke exclaimed her eyes widening and drawing herself up. She rushed to her youngest daughter's side.
Hope nodded tears welling up in her eyes. "Yep. We're done." She said again.
"Oh sweetheart, I am so sorry." Her mother told her compassionately cocking her head to the right.
The young woman shrugged lightly and looked down. She wiped the single tear off her beautiful face. She didn't even know why she was crying. It was as though she was becoming aware of it all. Sure, she had told Oliver yesterday that she and Liam had ended things, but now with this new datum in the equation, with Steffy pregnant, it all seemed more real, more concrete, and…final. She and Liam were over. She would have to come to terms with that, the sooner would be the better.
/
Two hours after Liam's phone call, Steffy made it back home, just like promised. It had been a long day, but she had done everything she had to do and she was about to find her handsome boyfriend again, so she was content.
She drove into the driveway and noticed a car she didn't know or didn't remember parked in her usual spot. Who can it be? She wondered. So she just parked behind Liam. She grabbed her bag and got her phone before she got out of the car and headed for the entrance.
She turned the lock and opened the door.
"Liam." Steffy called as she advanced further into the house.
"Right here." He answered from the kitchen.
She went towards the room. "Hey." She greeted him.
A silhouette was sitting on a stool in their kitchen table and spun when she spoke; Bridget revealed herself to the raven-haired woman.
"Hey!" Steffy greeted the blonde woman too, surprise dripping from her voice.
Bridget stood up and walked to her. They met halfway. "Hi Steffy." She greeted back and hugged the brunette.
"How are you?" Steffy asked pulling away.
"I'm fine." Bridget answered. "I should be asking you." She said nicely.
"I'm fine, thank you." She responded to Bridget's implicit question. "I have been getting some rest as you ordered."
"I have seen to it." Liam affirmed getting to his girlfriend's side and pulling her to him. He kissed her forehead sweetly.
"Good." Bridget said with a content smile on her face. "I tried to call you." She addressed Steffy.
"Did you?" the latter asked her brows furrowed. "I didn't hear…" she trailed off looking at her phone into her purse. She took it out and noticed he was off. "Oops, the battery is dead." She said showing her phone to the blonde. "Can you plug it in?" she asked Liam giving him the phone.
"Sure." He accepted and took the phone.
"So… I'm guessing you have my test results?" Steffy said to Bridget in an interrogative matter.
"I have." Bridget confirmed nodding.
"I'm so sorry you came all the way here. You didn't have to. That's so nice of you." Steffy said.
She couldn't believe she had actually let her phone die. She waited all day for Bridget's call, didn't stop checking her phone hoping to hear from her and finally be reassured as to her baby's health. Ironic how her phone ran out of battery without her even noticing!
"Sure. I figured you might want to know sooner rather than later. Besides, I know all too well what it feels like to be unsure about your pregnancy and… how your baby's doing." Bridget said.
Steffy smiled at her compassionately. Bridget had been through so much in her life… She was a true example for Steffy. She epitomized strong and tenacious women.
"And it's actually the kind of news that I enjoy delivering so…"
"So…" Steffy began and exchanged a look with Liam whom had returned at her side and was wrapping an arm around her waist. "The news is good?" she inquired.
"It's better than that: you're doing great. Your level of hormones is perfect, and your baby is in very good health." She said. "Nothing seems to indicate that this pregnancy will have any problem." Bridget assured the couple.
"Oh God." Steffy let out bringing her hand to her heart. She had been so afraid; this was such a relief.
She turned to Liam and held him tight. He stoked her hair and left a kiss there. He had a feeling Steffy was leaving something out about her unforeseen visit at the hospital. But she and the baby were okay now, and that's all that mattered. His family was okay.
Once she released her boyfriend, Steffy turned to Bridget. "And thank you." She acknowledged before taking her in her arms too.
"Oh please, I didn't do anything; I'm just the messenger." She denied rubbing the raven haired woman's back.
"Thank you." She still repeated as they pulled away. The blonde just gave her a tightlipped smile in response.
"Really, thank you." Liam outdid.
"People, stop it! You're embarrassing me!" Bridget exclaimed jokingly causing all of them to laugh.
"Okay, I'm going to go now." The blonde announced. "But hey, one word four letters: rest. I insist, Steffy. I know you're a hard-worker, but do not overdo it." She advised in a forbidding tone.
"I won't." Steffy promised.
"I trust you, Liam: you take care of her." Bridget addressed the man.
"I have her under the control." He replied tightening his grip around Steffy's waist.
"Good, let's keep it that way."
"Let me walk you out." Steffy said coming undone from Liam's grip.
"Thank you again for coming all the way here." He almost shouted right as the two women were about to pass over the door.
"Don't mention it." Bridget said and got out with Steffy behind her.
They walked until they reached the blonde's car. "Thank you again." Steffy acknowledged pulling her into a small hug. "For everything."
"You are absolutely welcome. It's normal." Bridget replied. "I will see you soon, alright?"
"Alright." Steffy nodded. "I will call you." She said. "Kiss Logan for me." She added as the blonde entered her car.
"I will. See you." Bridget said and closed the door. She started and drove off.
/
"Wait, hold on second." Brooke said, her eyebrows creased, as she had a thought. "If you didn't spend the whole night at Liam's yesterday… where did you spend it?" she questioned her daughter.
"With Oliver." Hope responded casually and Brooke raised her eyebrows at her.
"Sweetheart, you didn't…?" she asked vaguely, but Hope understood what her mother was asking.
"No, no. Absolutely not. He acted like the perfect gentleman." She reassured. "As always." She added thoughtfully.
Brooke started at Hope's pensive expression and narrowed her eyes as she wondered what the latter was thinking; she had a small idea. "You realize he's still in love with you, right?"
"Who?" Hope asked innocently as she came out of her thoughts.
Her mother cocked her head conspicuously at the blonde's response. "Thomas." She answered ironically.
"Oh." Was how Hope reacted.
"No! Oliver of course." Brooke exclaimed.
"Oh!" she let out once again. "Um… why would you think that?" she asked, evasive.
"Uh…because I have eyes." Brooke responded pointedly.
Hope simply looked away, a small smile which she was trying hard to suppress noticeable on her face. "I don't think Oliver's still in love with me." She replied. "I think he still has a thing for me, a crush… the rests of a long lost love." She said.
"Do you still care about him?" Brooke inquired.
"Of course I still care about him!" Hope answered. "I mean he's such a sweet guy. He makes me laugh, he makes me smile, and he's always there for me." She mused. "He's amazing, you know? I mean, what's not… to love?" she trailed off.
Brooke listened to her daughter intently and examined her expression with wary eyes. She observed as Hope's cheeks took a crimson tint and the sight brought a pleased smile to her face. 'When one door closes, another one opens.'
I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Let me know your thoughts.